Director, Talent Acquisition (Contract)

Zeno Group; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 83,000 - 103,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Be Kind to Your Mind

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Headspace subscription

Job summary

Zeno Group is seeking a Freelance Director, Talent Acquisition to lead full-cycle recruiting across disciplines including PR, digital, social, strategy and analytics, partnering with hiring managers and senior leaders to develop sourcing strategies and ensure an inclusive candidate experience.

The role combines relationship-building with hands-on execution, offering the opportunity to influence recruiting practices, guide searches, and evolve Zeno's talent acquisition strategy in a fast-paced,

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in talent acquisition or related fields within PR, Digital Media, or Integrated Communications agencies.

Responsibilities

• Lead full-cycle recruiting across multiple functions and levels.
• Advise hiring teams and define role requirements.
• Develop proactive sourcing strategies across networks and events.
• Guide candidates and hiring teams through the interview process.
• Promote inclusive hiring practices and equitable evaluation.

Skills

Strong sourcing

Relationship-building

Recruiting strategy

Staffing

Interview management

Tools

Workday

Job description

Zeno Group is the fiercely independent and global, integrated communications agency, born from PR. We bring together the boldest and brightest talent to help clients across industries and sectors unleash the power of strategic communications. Guided by our "Fearless Pursuit of the Unexpected," we push the boundaries to achieve real business value and societal impact for clients. Winner of the industry’s most coveted awards including the 2024 PRWeek U.S. Outstanding Large Agency of the Year, 2023 PRWeek Purpose Agency of the Year, 2022 PRWeek Global Agency of the Year, 2022 PRovoke Best Large Agency to Work For in North America and a three-time winner of PRWeek’s Best Places to Work. Zeno has also been previously recognized by the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Zeno is a DJE Holdings Company.

Job Description

Director, Talent Acquisition (Contract)

Do you enjoy connecting talented people with opportunities where they can make an impact? Are you energized by building trusted relationships with hiring leaders, developing creative sourcing strategies and creating thoughtful candidate experiences?

As a Freelance Director, Talent Acquisition at Zeno, you will lead full-cycle recruiting across a diverse range of disciplines, including public relations, creative, digital, social, paid media, creator marketing, strategy, AI, research and analytics. Working closely with hiring managers, senior leaders and the broader Talent team, you will develop recruiting strategies that help Zeno attract and hire talent while supporting an inclusive and engaging candidate experience.

This role is ideal for an experienced recruiter who combines strong relationship-building skills with strategic thinking and hands-on execution. You'll have the opportunity to lead searches, advise hiring teams, strengthen recruiting practices and contribute to the continued evolution of Zeno's talent acquisition strategy.

About the Role

• Talent Acquisition & Recruiting Strategy: Lead full-cycle recruiting across a variety of functions and levels, developing thoughtful approaches that align talent needs with business priorities.
• Hiring Manager Partnership & Counsel: Serve as a trusted advisor to hiring managers and senior leaders, helping define role requirements, develop sourcing strategies, structure interview processes and navigate hiring decisions.
• Sourcing & Talent Engagement: Develop proactive sourcing strategies across professional networks, referrals, social channels, industry events, career fairs and other talent communities to build diverse candidate pipelines.
• Candidate Experience & Interview Management: Guide candidates and hiring teams throughout the interview process, ensuring timely communication, clear expectations and a consistent, engaging experience from initial outreach through offer.
• Inclusive Hiring & Interview Practices: Partner with hiring teams to ensure thoughtful interview processes, encourage diverse candidate pipelines and support consistent, equitable evaluation practices aligned with company and legal requirements.
• Talent Intelligence & Recruiting Insights: Monitor talent markets, candidate trends and recruiting data to provide insights that inform sourcing strategies and hiring decisions.

About You

• 6+ years of experience in talent acquisition, recruiting or related fields within a PR, Digital Media, or Integrated Communications agency or staffing firm representing these industries.
• Experience leading full-cycle recruiting across multiple functions and levels, from sourcing through offer.
• Experience recruiting talent across communications, marketing, creative, digital, media, healthcare, technology or related disciplines.
• Proven ability to build trusted relationships with hiring managers and senior leaders while providing thoughtful recruiting guidance and recommendations.
• Strong sourcing expertise with experience using LinkedIn, professional networks, referrals, social channels and other approaches to identify and engage talent.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills with experience guiding candidates and stakeholders through complex hiring processes.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with experience managing multiple searches, priorities and stakeholders simultaneously.
• Experience using recruiting data, market insights or talent intelligence to inform hiring strategies and recommendations.
• Ability to manage sensitive and confidential information with professionalism and discretion.

Collaborative and adaptable mindset with curiosity about evolving talent markets, recruiting practices and candidate expectations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with applicant tracking systems and recruiting technologies, including Workday or similar platforms.

Experience contributing to early career recruiting or talent pipeline initiatives.

Pay Range: $60.00 - $75.00 USD/hr.

An employee's pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, travel requirements, revenue-based metrics, any contractual agreements, and business or organizational needs. The range listed is just one component of DJEH's total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, a Paid Time Off policy, and region-specific benefits.

Level 06

An employee’s pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, travel requirements, revenue-based metrics, any contractual agreements, and business or organizational needs. The range listed is just one component of DJEH’s total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, a Paid Time Off policy, and region-specific benefits.

About Our Benefits

Healthy, happy employees make Zeno better, so we have programs that support physical, mental and financial wellness. Our culture and benefits are designed to promote flexibility, celebrate diversity and support work/life balance. We offer a variety of medical, dental and vision insurance with prescription plans, as well as short and long-term disability. Our Be Kind to Your Mind program focuses on mental health, providing a paid subscription to Headspace and access to mental health providers and other services through a best-in-class employee assistance program. Employees are encouraged to bring their authentic self to Zeno and participate in our employee resource groups which build communities for sharing and support. And while we love our work, we believe in the restorative power of time off with generous vacation, paid holidays and self-care time. Employees are supported in their pursuit of financial wellness with a 401(k) plan, pretax flexible spending accounts, tuition assistance, life insurance and free access to a certified financial coach. And our unique ZenoFit program provides a monthly allowance to fund activities in your personal life that bring you joy and keep you healthy. These and other benefits are available to non-temporary employees in the US.

Zeno Group, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees. Employment decisions are made on the basis of job-related criteria without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, genetic information, national origin, disability, military, or veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law. We invite all applicants to voluntarily self-identify their race, ethnicity, and gender. Submission of the information on this form is strictly voluntary and refusal to provide it will not subject you to any adverse treatment. Information obtained will be retained in a confidential file and separate from personnel records. This information may only be used in accordance with the provision of applicable federal laws, executive orders, and regulations. If you want more information about any of the sections, please check with a company representative.